NFC center

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes systems and methods for a near field communication (NFC) center that stores NFC information for various NFC devices and products. The NFC information is supplied by the device or product itself or from the manufacturer of the device or product. A user is then able to obtain the NFC information through their user mobile device from the NFC center. With the NFC information, the user can manage one or more NFC devices in real time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/092,671 filed Dec. 16, 2014 entitled “NFC Center,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to near field communication (NFC) devices. More specifically, the present invention is related to a near field communication center for storing and managing near field communication information.

Description of the Related Art

Near field communication (NFC) is a form of contactless communication between devices (e.g. smartphones or tablets). Contactless communication allows a user to motion (e.g. wave or pass) the device over other NFC compatible devices to send information without the need to provide physical contact between the devices or to undergo multiple steps to set up a connection between the devices.

NFC maintains interoperability between different wireless communication methods and other NFC standards through the NFC Forum. The NFC Forum enforces strict standards that manufactures must meet when designing NFC compatible devices. These standards ensure that NFC between devices is secure and remains easy-to-use with different versions of the technology.

The technology behind NFC allows a device (also referred to as a reader, interrogator or active device) to create a radio frequency (RF) current that is used to communicate with other NFC compatible devices or a small NFC tag holding information that might be of interest to the reader. Passive devices, such as the NFC tag, can be provided in posters and other forms of media or advertising. These passive devices store information and communicate with the reader but do not actively read other devices.

Peer-to-peer communication between two active devices is also possible with NFC. This communication would allow both devices to send and receive information between the two devices.

NFC devices are presently implemented in many products including alarm clocks, cars and point of sale (POS) terminals for payments. With the plethora of NFC interactions and potential applications aimed at controlling the NFC devices, however, it has become more difficult to manage all the NFC information related to the increasing number of NFC devices. Each particular NFC device may have its own capabilities, settings, and updates. Using a particular application for a particular NFC device can become further cumbersome and complicated when larger numbers of NFC devices become involved.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods directed towards a near field communication (NFC) center that stores NFC information for various NFC devices. The NFC information stored in the center includes options and updates, service links, and manufacturing links for each respective NFC device. The NFC center facilitates the storing and control of the growing number of NFC devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art method for authorization based on near field communication (NFC).

FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art method for payment based on NFC.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network environment in which an exemplary system for providing an NFC center may be implemented.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary settings GUI found on a user mobile device that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary network for NFC transactions that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary GUI that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center.

FIGS. 5B and 5C are flowcharts illustrating exemplary software methods for providing a service network for NFC transactions.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary service database that may be used in a system for providing a service network for NFC transactions.

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary service support database that may be used in a system for providing a service network for NFC transactions.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary NFC user database found in the user mobile device that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary user mobile device method of providing a NFC center.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of providing an NFC center.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art method for authorization based on near field communication (NFC). In particular, the FIG. 1 shows a general credit card approval payment process and general payment process using NFC.

With reference to the basic authorization process, a customer can initiate the basic authorization process by buying one or more items with an NFC-compatible device (e.g., smart phone). The NFC-compatible device communicates with a merchant point of sales (POS) terminal, which can be a contactless terminal for NFC transactions.

Upon receiving a purchase request from the customer, the merchant terminal provides the request to the merchant bank. The merchant bank then forwards the request to the credit card payment processing. The credit card payment processing further forwards the request to the customer bank.

At the customer bank, a determination as to whether to approve or decline the request is made. This determination can be based on a variety of different parameters. The outcome of the determination (e.g., approved or declined) can be provided back to the credit card company and the merchant bank. The merchant terminal is afterwards informed by the merchant bank about the authorization status for the recent purchases of the customer.

The basic authorization process further includes the Trusted Service Manager (TSM) and carrier with OTA (over-the-air) programming. The TSM acts as a neutral broker that sets up secure connections between different elements. In this case, the TSM can find the encryption codes for communications between the credit card payment systems and the customer bank. Meanwhile, the carrier with OTA programming may provide various methods for distributing new software updates, configuration settings and even updating encryption keys for the system.

FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art method for payment using NFC. Similar transactions are provided between the various elements (e.g., customer, merchant, credit card, TSM, carrier with OTA programming) as identified above for the basic authorization process. In particular, a merchant first sends settlement requests to the merchant bank. That request is forwarded to the credit card payment processing and to the customer bank. The customer bank then transfers the requested funds as necessary based on the request.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network environment in which an exemplary system for providing an NFC center may be implemented. The network environment may include a user mobile device, servers for such service networks for NFC transactions, manufacturer NFC network, security NFC network, advertisement NFC network, retail NFC network, at-home NFC appliances network, various home devices (e.g., NFC device 1, NFC device 2, and NFC device 3), NFC retail devices, NFC security devices, and NFC travel devices. These devices can be connected to the cloud/Internet in order to communicate with other device.

The user mobile device may include a number of different elements. The user mobile device may include a communications module, an NFC communications module, settings graphical user interface (GUI), an operating system (OS), one or more applications, and elements for NFC operations. The OS may include NFC center software and a user NFC database.

With respect to the service network for NFC transactions, such a network may include application programming interfaces (APIs) that are used to allow various users and networks to access a database. In particular, the network may include a user API and a network API. The various exemplary types of networks shown in FIG. 2 (e.g., advertiser, retail, home, security, and manufacturer) can all utilize the network API to load their respective information from their network into the database.

For example, a home NFC appliance device (e.g., alarm clock) can load information about itself into the NFC service network database through the use of the network API. The type of information that can be loaded into the database includes information about the alarm clock model, hyperlinks to the company website, and data files associated with the alarm clock that a user can download and use to update the particular alarm clock.

The NFC retail network can be provided as a network for one or more stores that could use the network API to log into the NFC service network and provide information about their POS terminal. For example, a store (e.g., Walmart) may use the network API to upload information about coupons in the NFC service network database. This can then allow anyone using an NFC device at Walmart to access the coupon information with their NFC user device.

The NFC advertiser network can also interact with the NFC service network using the network API. In particular, the advertiser network can provide information related to advertisements tied to products (e.g., home network appliances) to be stored in the network database. The advertiser network can also supply coupons and advertisements to other networks, including networks associated with the product.

The NFC security network corresponds with NFC compatible security devices. These security devices may use NFC, for example, to unlock a home door, control and unlock a car, or unlock a turn-style at a train station. The information that the security network can provide to the NFC service network database using the network API may include information about the security device, software associated with the security device, and hyperlinks to the device website.

The NFC manufacturer(s) network corresponds to the various devices which may be made by a respective manufacturer. A manufacturer (e.g., Samsung) may place information about its various products with corresponding model numbers into the NFC service network database.

It should be noted that information about a particular product may also be provided to the NFC service network database from two (or more) different networks. Information about a particular product can come, for example, from the manufacturer network corresponding to the manufacturer for the particular product, and from a more general network related to the product (e.g., NFC home appliances network if the product is considered a home appliance).

The user mobile device may then be able, through the use of the user API, to obtain access to the NFC service database. With the access, the user can browse and select particular products listed in the database. The information corresponding to the selected products can then be downloaded to the user mobile device (e.g., smart phone or particular device selected).

With the information obtained from the NFC service database, the user can then use the settings GUI on their user mobile device to customize and manage each NFC product. These settings may include the ability to turn on/off the device, authorizing and performing updates or enabling real-time operation.

The particular settings chosen by the user can then be stored in the mobile device NFC user database. The information about the settings is then usable when the user mobile device interacts with the one or more NFC products. The NFC center software then is able to use the information and determine what to do with respect to the one or more NFC products.

Different variations on the networks illustrated in FIG. 2 can also be provided so that NFC information from these different networks can also be stored and managed in a similar manner as described above.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary settings GUI found on a user mobile device. As seen in the figure, the GUI can include a variety of settings. The settings can be settings that can be found in most other phones (e.g., airplane mode, Wi-Fi, and cellular). Also shown in the figure are some settings which are directed to the present invention and therefore may not be found in other phones.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary settings GUI found on a user mobile device that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center. Such a GUI can include a setting referencing the NFC center. In particular, the settings GUI can ask the user whether to turn on or off the NFC center. The settings GUI may further include a number of different subheadings with their own settings. These subheadings can include the available networks (as shown in FIG. 3) and a choice for the user to enable/disable communication with that particular network for one or more products/devices listed. Furthermore, additional options can be provided to provide real-time management of a particular NFC product/device by the OS of the user mobile device and to update the particular NFC product/device as needed.

The user can add additional NFC devices by interacting with the NFC service network as described above. Based on the user selecting more devices/products, the GUI can then include these additional NFC devices/products under the pre-existing subheadings or create new ones as necessary.

Aside from controlling NFC devices/products, the settings GUI can also be used by the user to control what types of information can be transmitted from the user mobile phone to the other networks. For example, settings can be provided regarding a POS terminal to allow transmission of the particular device number and security codes in order to receive updates and real-time operation. Furthermore, the user can determine what types of information can be provided (e.g., coupons) or should not be provided (e.g., credit card information).

Furthermore, the settings GUI can be used to allow the user to manage devices/products based on the user location. Based on the location of the user, travel devices can be enabled to update and operate in real time or alternatively disabled. For example, the illustrated settings GUI shows that user travel devices are enabled when they are identified as being in their car or on a plane, but are disabled when the user is identified as being on the tube. Furthermore, the user devices/products can similarly be enabled/disabled based on the user location in a particular store (e.g., Wal-Mart, Home Depot). In other embodiments, various parameters other than those listed may be further specified (e.g., providing particular airlines like Delta or United with their own settings).

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary service network for NFC transactions that may be used in a system for providing an NFC center. As illustrated, the NFC service network may include a main database and a support database. The main database may be where the various networks upload their information to be initially stored. In contrast, the support database may be used for logging user identification and facilitating user mobile devices with selection of one or more items stored in the main database.

The NFC service network may also include base software. The base software may poll the APIs for information from either the user mobile device (using the user API) or the devices/networks (using the network API). If information is obtained from the network API, the information may be stored in the main database. If information is obtained from the user API, the base software allows the user to interact with the support database.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary GUI (FIG. 5A), as well as flowcharts (FIGS. 5B and 5C) illustrating methods for providing a NFC service network as described herein.

The user may be provided a GUI as shown in FIG. 5 when the user indicates a wish to interact with the NFC service network and use the support database. The GUI may include various parameters including user ID, NFC device ID, and user options regarding various advertisements, services, updates, and information from the manufacturer. The options may include frequency of communication in receiving the particular items (e.g., ads, services, information, and/or updates). Other options may be to allow the user to disable receiving data from one or more of those types or sources completely.

In general, the base software may be executed to perform the methods illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C. In FIG. 5B, input from the user may be received via the GUI and loaded into the support database. In FIG. 5C, the settings customized by the user may be applied to the various services for the selected NFC device/product.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary service support database found in the NFC service network. In particular, the support database may include information such as device type, device identification, data code files (e.g., files that may be used to manage or update the device), and links for the device (e.g., NFC web links). The information may be derived from information from the main database in which devices and/or networks uploaded information about products using the network API. As indicated above, the user is able to interact with the support database, select one or more NFC device/products from the support database, and download particular information for one or more devices/products from the support database to the user mobile device.

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary service support database found in the NFC service network as described herein. In particular, the support database may include information that the user has uploaded to the NFC service network, which can look similar to the database illustrated in and discussed with respect to FIG. 6.

The information stored in the database of FIG. 7 may include information such as user ID, device/product identification, and settings for various services. This information can be information provided by the user through the GUI illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary NFC user database found in the user mobile device as described herein. In particular, the user database may include information such as device type, device identification, data code file, and web links. This information can be similar to the information stored in the NFC service support database. Instead of the information being stored on the support database in the network, the information may be stored locally on the user mobile device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for providing an NFC center. NFC center software may have access to the NFC user database and read the information stored therein.

After reading available data in the user database, the OS of the mobile device may be operated in real time, which may facilitate the run-time on the applications used by the mobile devices by removing a possible step of initiating the application prior to use.

Furthermore, the updates may be automatically searched and supplied to the devices by using related web links stored in the user database. The web links can be referenced to determine if there is an update available, and if so, the updates can then be applied for the next NFC.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of providing an NFC center. A user mobile device, NFC service network, a plurality of NFC networks (e.g., retail NFC network, security NFC network, manufacturer NFC network, an advertisement NFC network, a home NFC appliance network), and a plurality of devices (e.g., NFC home devices, NFC-security devices, NFC travel devices, NFC POS devices) may be provided. The user device may include various applications for managing the NFC devices, NFC communications, a settings GUI, and an OS that has NFC center software, and a user NFC database. The NFC service network may have APIs, a GUI, base software, and databases.

The various networks may use the network API of the NFC service network to update the main database of the NFC service network with information about various NFC devices/products. The user is able to interact with the information using the user API and selecting one or more NFC devices/products using the support database. Based on the selection, the information may be stored locally on the user mobile device.

The user can then use the GUI on the user mobile device to set up each of the selected devices/products and store the information about the settings locally on the user mobile device or in the NFC service network support database. Use of the information from the network allows the user mobile device real-time control over the NFC devices that were selected by the user.

It should be noted that software may be stored in any various forms of non-transitory forms of memory as are known in the art. Software stored in memory may be executed by a processor or processing devices at a computing device, which may be mobile in nature such as a mobile phone or tablet device. The computing device executing the instructions from memory may have one or more communications interfaces that allow for connection to wired or wireless networks as well as interaction with wired or wireless devices, including NFC devices.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing near field communication (NFC) data from a variety of different NFC devices, the method comprising: receiving uploaded NFC data regarding one or more NFC devices over a communication network, wherein the uploaded NFC data is sent from one or more NFC data servers and received at an NFC service network server, wherein the uploaded NFC data includes an NFC web link associated with a specified one of the NFC devices, wherein the NFC web link accesses information identifying when an update is available for the specified NFC device; storing the uploaded NFC data regarding the one or more NFC devices in a database in memory associated with the NFC service network server; receiving a user selection sent from a mobile device over the communication network regarding one or more selected NFC devices; retrieving a set of NFC data from the database in memory, the retrieved set of NFC data regarding the one or more selected NFC devices; and transmitting the set of NFC data regarding the one or more selected NFC devices over the communication network to the mobile device, wherein each of the one or more selected NFC devices is configured based on the transmitted set of NFC data as part of an NFC communication between the mobile device and the respective selected NFC device, wherein the mobile device supplies the update to the specified one of the NFC devices via the NFC web link.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the uploaded NFC data includes a data code file associated with a specified one of the NFC devices, wherein execution of the data code file by the mobile device allows for control or update of the specified NFC device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device receives one or more preferences regarding the selected NFC devices, and wherein the mobile device configures communications with the selected NFC devices by implementing the received one or more preferences via the NFC communication.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising polling the mobile device regarding any updates to the one or more preferences.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising polling the NFC data servers regarding any updates to the NFC data regarding the NFC devices.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile device provides the preferences to a remote support database for storage.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device stores the set of NFC data in a local memory.
 8. A system for managing near field communication (NFC) data from a variety of different NFC devices, the system comprising: a communication network interface that receives uploaded NFC data regarding one or more NFC devices over a communication network, wherein the uploaded NFC data is sent from one or more NFC data servers, wherein the uploaded NFC data includes an NFC web link associated with a specified one of the NFC devices, wherein the NFC web link accesses information identifying when an update is available for the specified NFC device; a database in memory that stores the uploaded NFC data regarding the one or more NFC devices; wherein the communication network interface receives a user selection sent from a mobile device over the communication network regarding one or more selected NFC devices; and a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor retrieves a set of NFC data regarding the selected NFC devices from the database; and wherein the communication network interface further transmits the set of NFC data regarding the selected NFC devices over the communication network to the mobile device, wherein each of the selected NFC devices is configured based on the transmitted set of NFC data as part of an NFC communication between the mobile device and the respective selected NFC device, wherein the mobile device supplies the update to the specified one of the NFC devices via the NFC web link.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the uploaded NFC data includes a data code file associated with a specified one of the NFC devices, wherein execution of the data code file by the mobile device allows for control or update of the specified NFC device.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device receives one or more preferences regarding the selected NFC devices, and wherein the mobile device configures communications with the selected NFC devices by implementing the received one or more preferences via the NFC communication.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication network interface further polls the mobile device regarding any updates to the one or more preferences.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication network interface further polls the NFC data servers regarding any updates to the NFC data regarding the NFC devices.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device provides the preferences to a remote support database for storage.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device stores the set of NFC data in a local memory.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for managing near field communication (NFC) data from a variety of different NFC devices, the method comprising: receiving uploaded NFC data regarding one or more NFC devices over a communication network, wherein the uploaded NFC data is sent from one or more NFC data servers and received at an NFC service network server, wherein the uploaded NFC data includes an NFC web link associated with a specified one of the NFC devices, wherein the NFC web link accesses information identifying when an update is available for the specified NFC device; storing the uploaded NFC data regarding the one or more NFC devices in a database in memory associated with the NFC service network server; receiving a user selection sent from a mobile device over the communication network regarding one or more selected NFC devices; retrieving a set of NFC data from the database in memory, the retrieved set of NFC data regarding the one or more selected NFC devices; and transmitting the set of NFC data regarding the one or more selected NFC devices over the communication network to the mobile device, wherein each of the one or more selected NFC devices is configured based on the transmitted set of NFC data as part of an NFC communication between the mobile device and the respective selected NFC device, wherein the mobile device supplies the update to the specified one of the NFC devices via the NFC web link. 